The Historical Novel Society
showcasing books by authors attending HNS UK 2024
today:
Cathie Dunn
and
Marian Exall
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| Cathie Dunn |
Title: Ascent
Series: House of Normandy
A brutal Viking raid heralds the dawn of a new, powerful dynasty – the House of Normandy
Neustria, Kingdom of the West Franks
AD 890
Fourteen-year-old Poppa’s life changes when Northmen land near Bayeux. Count Bérengar, her father, submits to them, and she is handfasted to Hrólfr, the Northmen’s heathen leader, as part of their agreement.
To her relief, Hrólfr leaves immediately in search of further conquest, only returning to claim her years later. In the face of retaliating Franks, they flee to East Anglia, where she gives birth to their son and daughter.
When Hrólfr and Poppa return to reclaim Bayeux, his new campaign strikes at the heart of Frankish power, and King Charles of the West Franks offers him a pact he cannot refuse. In exchange for vast tracts of land in Neustria, Hrólfr must convert to Christianity and accept marriage to Gisela, the king’s illegitimate daughter.
Poppa’s world shatters. She remains in Bayeux, with her daughter, Adela. When Gisela arrives one day, demanding she hand over Adela, to be raised in Rouen, Poppa’s patience is at an end. But Gisela makes for a dangerous enemy, and only one woman will survive their confrontation high up on the cliffs.
Will Poppa live to witness the dawn of a new era?
ASCENT is the first in a new series about the early women of the House of Normandy – women whose stories have been forgotten through time.
Until now!
Readers of Viking and medieval fiction will enjoy ASCENT, a fictional account of the life of Poppa of Bayeux, handfasted wife of Rollo the Viking.
Praise for Ascent:
"'Ascent' by Cathie Dunn is an extremely well-written retelling of Normandy history and the violence surrounding the time period, as well as the daily hardships all women faced. The author's command of the historical facts makes this story even more compelling, and Poppa's plight even more heartbreaking. Watching Poppa overcome all she must go through is the highlight of the story."
~ InD'tale Magazine
"Cathie Dunn transports us back over a thousand years in the most meaningful way that will appeal to any reader. She has woven an intriguing story using the scant information we have about the period and its key players. The blissful love story included in the book added to the thrill. The setting was made more beautiful by the community and individuals in the tale. There were friends, foes, and allies, and each was motivated differently, whether by love, hatred, or greed. The story flowed beautifully. I never expected such a complex plot whose ending would be riveting and unusual."
~ Readers Favorite Review
Ascent Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/NormandyAscent
Author Universal Amazon Link: https://author.to/CathieDunn
Website: https://www.cathiedunn.com
Twitter: https://x.com/cathiedunn
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| Marian Exall |
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| About the book |
As World War II sweeps over Europe, nine-year-old Danielle escapes from Latvia under the protection of the Dutch consul, but her mother, the consul's secretary, is left behind at the end of a momentous year which sees a heroic scheme to save refugees from the Nazis, the blossoming of a secret love and an unhappy woman's revenge.
The consul's young daughter Berta also grows up in the shadow of war, striving to understand why her father never speaks about their time in Riga.
Memories of the Riga consulate and questions about what happened there haunt the survivors as they remake their lives in the postwar world."
website: marianexall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysterymarianexall
XTwitter @marianexall
(note: Helen has not yet read Marian's book herself)
featuring Anna Belfrage and Johanna Wittenberg
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Website: https://helenhollick.net/
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| Amazon: FREE ebook! |
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NON-FICTION
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Monthly newsletter Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse (posted on my blog - subscribe to a 'reminder' list) Start Here: January 2024 |
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